 |
"More Kids in the Woods" participants try their snowshoes on for size.
|
Munising in March began with nearly 100 inches of snow at its back. Grand Island’s ice curtains hung before a frozen Lake Superior and the residents of Alger and Delta Counties in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan persisted with cabin fever. The whirring gurgle of snowmobiles was routine and one could expect to hear falling timber as the US Forest Service harvested their winter haul. However, this year, there were new sounds in the Great Lakes National Forest – sounds of children, laughing and learning in the North Woods.
Hiawatha Interpretive Association (HIA), a nonprofit managed by a volunteer Board of Directors, implemented its “More Kids in the Woods” winter program this January after receiving a grant from the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps. Over the past three months, HIA partnered with the YMCA, local parks and recreation department and local wildlife groups to bring kids, ages 8 – 12, outside in the snow-filled days of winter. “Some local kids have never been fishing,” HIA Board President Danita Rask explained. “There is more snowmobiling than snowshoeing.”
HIA’s winter program is an extension of HIA’s summer-long “More Kids in the Woods” program which has existed for the past eight years and was previously coordinated by the US Forest Service. HIA believes Alger and Delta Counties need a program like this to connect kids with nature. Both counties have an annual medium household income of $38,231 - $40,967 (2010 United States Census) and according to Rask, “There is poverty in the area and not a lot of good stimulation in schools.”
This winter, 119 kids attended the “More Kids in the Woods” program and learned the basics of fire-starting, snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing and winter survival skills such as building a snow shelter and fitting a backpack with survival essentials. “They are not only being introduced to new things, they want to keep doing them and this will help increase their skill level and confidence,” says Program Coordinator Nick Moreno. Not only does HIA want to continue this program next year but they want to focus on bringing whole families out into the woods with the belief that if parents enjoy the activity, they’re likely to take their kids with them again.
 |
 |
| Kids from Alger and Delta Counties explore the outdoors and create snow shelters. |
HIA is a growing organization with a length of achievements. Whether it’s running two visitor centers with the US Forest Service and National Park Service, providing financial support for Hiawatha National Forest and its programs or through developing and implementing their own educational initiatives, HIA maintains a busy schedule in the quiet north.
The sandstone cliffs, majestic waterfalls, and historic lighthouses of the Hiawatha National Forest motivate HIA to move forward and they invite feedback from Public Lands Alliance members on best practices in growing their organization and increasing their outreach. Learn more about HIA on their website and their facebook page.
Do you have a story worth telling?
Our monthly Member Spotlight features Public Lands Alliance Member's exceptional work on public lands and highlights their success. If you would like to share your organization's story with the public, or if you would like to recommend a Member for consideration, contact Member Communications Manager Amanda Keith at amanda@publiclandsalliance.org or 301-946-9475 ext. 223.
|